Plate package

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a plate package for a heat exchanger device including a tank with an inner space and an inner wall surface. A sectional plane (p) extends vertically through the inner space. The tank has an inlet for the supply of a liquid medium and an outlet for discharging the medium in a gaseous state. The inner space defines a lower part space and an upper part space. The plate package ( 10 ) with heat exchanger plates ( 11 ) is provided in the inner space. Each heat exchanger plate has an extension plane perpendicular to the sectional plane. The heat exchanger plates form first plate interspaces that are open towards the inner space for recirculation of the medium, and second plate interspaces, which are closed towards the inner space for the recirculation of a fluid for evaporating the medium. Each heat exchanger plate includes a first porthole ( 14 ) and a second porthole ( 15 ). Furthermore, each heat exchanger plate includes an elongated distribution element ( 25 ) which extends into the adjacent second plate interspace and substantially transversally to the sectional plane (p).

THE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

The present invention refers to a plate package for a heat exchangerdevice including a tank, which forms a substantially closed inner spaceand which includes an inner wall surface facing the inner space, whereinthe tank is arranged to be provided in such a way that a sectionalplane, which extends through the plate package and the inner space ofthe tank, is substantially vertical, wherein the plate package isarranged to be provided in the inner space and includes heat exchangerplates provided adjacent to each other, wherein each heat exchangerplate has a main extension plane and is provided in such a way that theextension plane is substantially perpendicular to said sectional plane,wherein the heat exchanger plates form first plate interspaces, whichare substantially open to the inner space and arranged to permitcirculation of said medium from the lower part space upwardly to theupper part space, and second plate interspaces, which are closed to theinner space and arranged to permit recirculation of a fluid forevaporating the medium, wherein the first plate interspaces in an upperportion of the plate package form outlet channels for the medium,wherein each heat exchanger plate includes a first porthole and a secondporthole and wherein the first portholes form an inlet channel for saidfluid to the second plate interspaces and the second portholes form anoutlet channel for said fluid from the second plate interspaces.

It is known to use such plate packages in heat exchanger devices forevaporating various cooling medium such as ammonium, freons etc, inapplications for generating cold, for instance. The evaporated medium isthen conveyed from heat exchanger device to a compressor and thecompressed gaseous medium is thereafter condensed in a condenser.Thereafter the medium is permitted to expand and is then recirculated tothe heat exchanger device. In such applications, it is important thatthe evaporation is complete and that no liquid is still present in themedium when it is supplied to the compressor, since the latter then maybe damaged. In order to solve this problem, it is known to provide aliquid separator in the heat exchanger device in the proximity of theoutlet for the medium. Such a liquid separator is disclosed in EP-B1-758073, for instance.

This document discloses a heat exchanger device including a tank, whichforms a substantially closed inner space and which has an inner wallsurface facing the inner space. The tank includes an inlet for thesupply of a medium in a liquid state and an outlet for discharging themedium in a gaseous state. The inner space defines a first lower partspace for the medium in the liquid state and a second upper part spacefor the medium in the gaseous state. A plate package is provided in theinner space and includes heat exchanger plates provided against to eachother. The heat exchanger plates form first plate interspace, which areopen towards the inner space and arranged to permit recirculation ofsaid medium from the first space upwardly towards the second space, andsecond plate interspaces, which are closed towards the inner space andarranged to permit recirculation of a fluid for evaporating the medium.The first plate interspaces form channels for said medium, which extendsubstantially straight upwardly along their whole length. Above platepackage, a liquid separator is provided in such a way that substantiallythe whole quantity of the medium flowing upwardly from the plate packagewill hit the liquid separator and flow through the same, whereinpossible remaining liquid is caught by the liquid separator andrecirculated to the first lower part space.

WO97/45689 discloses an example of another heat exchanger device for anevaporator. The heat exchanger device includes a tank housing a platepackage and a liquid separator in an upper part of the tank.

The disadvantage of such separate liquid separators is that they requirespace in the heat exchanger device. Such separators also increase thecomplexity and thus result in higher costs for manufacturing the device.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,538,718 discloses another heat exchanger device forcooling a fluid through evaporation of a liquid in a tank. The fluid isconveyed through a heat exchanger which is completely submerged in theliquid present in the tank. When the fluid is cooled, the liquid will beevaporated and the evaporated medium rises upwardly in the tank and isdischarged via an outlet conduit. In this document, it is stated thatthe possible remaining liquid in the evaporated medium will be separatedand recirculated to the liquid in the lower part of the tank.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a plate packageensuring an efficient heat transfer and having a compact and simpleconstruction. Furthermore, it is aimed at a plate package with lowmanufacturing costs.

This object is achieved by means of the plate package initially defined,which is characterised in that each heat exchanger plate includes anelongated distribution element extending into the adjacent second plateinterspace and substantially transversally to said sectional plane. Suchan elongated distribution element, which extends transversally to thesectional plane, i.e. substantially horizontally, will force the mainpart of the flow of said fluid to flow outwardly towards the sides andthus to take a longer way between the inlet channel and the outletchannel than if said fluid would flow substantially straight from theinlet channel to the outlet channel. In such a way, the efficiency ofthe heat transfer is enhanced, since substantially the whole heatexchanger surface of the heat exchanger plates is utilised.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the distribution element isformed through a shaping of the heat exchanger plate, wherein thisshaping forms a projection extending into the adjacent second plateinterspace and a depression extending from the adjacent first plateinterspace. The projection will thus prolong the flow path of the fluidthrough the plate package and distribute the fluid over a largersurface. The depression will have a positive distributing effect on themedium. Due to the volume created in the plate package, medium will becollected in the depression and therefrom be distributed through thedifferent passages towards the outlet channels in the upper portion ofthe plate package. By letting the distribution element and depressionhave an arrow-like shape pointing upwardly, the medium, which iscollected in the depression, will be guided towards the centre. Such ashaping of the distribution element may be easily done in connectionwith the compression moulding of the heat exchanger plate.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the distributionelement is formed by a rod-like insert which is provided in the secondplate interspace. Such an insert may in an easy manner be provided inthe second plate interspace in connection with the manufacturing of theplate package. The insert may then suitably be attached to one or bothof the adjacent plates by means of any suitable method such as brazing,welding or gluing. The insert may be manufactured of any suitablematerial, for instance a metal, such as stainless steel or titanium,plastics, ceramic materials etc. An advantage of such a separate insertis that it easily may be adapted to various applications, for instancethe horizontal length of the inset may be varied in an easy manner.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the plate packageincludes, in addition to said upper portion, a lower portion and anintermediate portion, wherein the first portholes are provided in theproximity of the lower portion and the second portholes in proximity ofthe upper portion. By such a layout, the plate package will operateaccording to the principle of parallel flow. It is to be noted that itis also possible to let the first portholes be provided in the proximityof the upper portion and the second portholes in the proximity of thelower portion, wherein the plate package operates according to theprinciple of counter flow. Furthermore, said portions may include arespective corrugation of ridges and valleys, wherein the corrugation ofthe intermediate portion extends in at least one direction of one ofsaid plates and in at least another direction of an adjacent plate insuch a way that the corrugations of adjacent plates cross each other inthe intermediate portion. In such a way, a high strength of platepackage is achieved at the same time as an effective heat transferbetween the fluid and the medium is ensured.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the sectional planeintersects the first porthole and the second porthole. The two portholesthus lie at a substantially vertical line which is substantiallyperpendicular to the extension of the elongated distribution element.Advantageously, the distribution element is provided substantially inthe middle between the first porthole and the second porthole.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, each heat exchangerplate has an upper edge, a lower edge and two side edges, wherein thedistribution element is located substantially in the middle between theupper edge and the lower edge and in the middle between the two sideedges. Advantageously, the distribution element may then have such alength that the closest distance to each of the side edges is equal to0.7 to 1.0 * the distance to the upper edge. By such a length a flowcross section between the distribution element and the respective sideedge, which may result in a certain throttling, is achieved, and in sucha way turbulence of the fluid is obtained.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the distributionelement has an intermediate portion and two outer portions which extendfrom the intermediate portion to a respective side edge. Advantageously,at least one of the outer portions may then have an inclination upwardlytowards the upper edge.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the distributionelement includes at least one interruption forming a passage for saidfluid through the distribution element.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the upper part spaceis designed in such a way that said outlet channels extend in such adirection that the medium is guided outwardly from a central part of theplate package. The plate package according to the invention may thusconstitute a compact and efficient evaporator, for instance in a coolingplant. More specifically, said outlet portions may extend obliquelyupwardly and outwardly from said sectional plane. In such a way it isinsured that the gaseous medium hits the inner wall surface wherepossible remaining liquid will be collected. Said outlet portions mayadvantageously then extend at an angle which is 30 to 60° in relation tosaid sectional plane. More specifically, said angle may be about 45°.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the plate packagehas an upper side, a lower side and two opposite transverse sides, andis provided in such a way in the inner space that the plate package,substantially, is located in the lower part space and that gap-likerecirculation channels are formed between the inner wall surface and therespective transverse side. Advantageously, said first interspaces areclosed towards the inner space along the transverse sides, which extendbetween and connect the lower side and the upper side.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is now to be explained more closely through adescription of various embodiments and with reference to the drawingsattached hereto.

FIG. 1 discloses a schematical and sectional view from the side of aheat exchanger device according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 discloses schematically another sectional view of the heatexchanger device in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 discloses schematically a plan view of a heat exchanger plate ofa plate package of the heat exchanger device in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 discloses schematically a plan view of another heat exchangerplate of a plate package of the heat exchanger device in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 discloses a distribution element for a plate package of the heatexchanger device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a heat exchanger device according to theinvention is disclosed. The heat exchanger device includes a tank 1,which forms a substantially closed inner space 2. In the embodimentdisclosed the tank 1 has a substantially cylindrical shape with asubstantially cylindrical shell wall, see FIG. 1, and two substantiallyplane end walls. The end walls may also have a semi-spherical shape, forinstance. Also other shapes of the tank 1 are possible. The shell wallof the tank 1 forms a substantially cylindrical inner wall surface 3facing the inner space 2. Through the tank 1 and the inner space 2, asectional plane p extends. The tank 1 is arranged to be provided in sucha way that the sectional plane p is substantially vertical.

The tank 1 also includes an inlet 5 for the supply of a medium in aliquid state to the inner space 2, and an outlet 6 for the discharge ofthe medium in a gaseous state from the inner space 2. The inlet 5includes an inlet conduit which ends in a lower part space 2′ of theinner space 2. The outlet 6 includes an outlet conduit 6, which extendsfrom an upper part space 2″ of the inner space 2.

The heat exchanger device also includes a plate package 10, which isprovided in the inner space 2 and includes a plurality of heat exchangerplates 11 that are provided adjacent to each other. Such a heatexchanger plate 11 is disclosed more closely in FIG. 3. The heatexchanger plates 11 are permanently connected to each other in the platepackage 10, for instance through welding, brazing or gluing. The heatexchanger plates 11 are preferably manufactured in a corrosion resistantmaterial, for instance stainless steel or titanium.

Each heat exchanger plate 11 has a main extension plane q and isprovided in such a way in the plate package 10 and the tank 1 that theextension plane q is substantially vertical and substantiallyperpendicular to the sectional plane p. The sectional plane p alsoextends transversally through each heat exchanger plate 11, and in theembodiment is disclosed, the sectional plane p also thus forms avertical centre plane through each individual heat exchanger plate 11.

The heat exchanger plates 11 form in the plate package 10 firstinterspaces 12, which are open towards inner space 2, and second plateinterspaces 13, which are closed towards the inner space 2. The mediummentioned above, which is supplied to the tank 1 via the inlet 5, thuspass into the plate package 10 and in particular into the first plateinterspaces 12.

Each heat exchanger plate 11 includes a first porthole 14 and a secondporthole 15. The first portholes 14 form an inlet channel connected toan inlet conduit 16. The second portholes 15 form an outlet channelconnected to an outlet conduit 17. The sectional plane p extends throughboth the first porthole 14 and second porthole 15. The heat exchangerplates 11 are connected to each other around the portholes 14 and 15 insuch a way that the inlet channel and the outlet channel are closed inrelation to the first plate interspaces 12 but open in relation to thesecond plate interspaces 13. A fluid may thus be supplied to the secondplate interspaces 13 via the inlet conduit 16 and the associated inletchannel formed by the first portholes 14, and discharged from the secondplate interspaces 13 via the outlet channel formed by the secondportholes 14 and the outlet conduit 17.

As is shown in FIG. 1, the plate package 10 has an upper side and alower side, and two opposite transverse sides. The plate package 10 isprovided in the inner space 2 in such a way that it substantially islocated in the lower part space 2′ and that a collection space 18 isformed beneath the plate package 10 between the lower side and the innerwall surface 3. Furthermore, gap-like recirculation channels 19 areformed at each side of the plate package 10 between the inner wallsurface 3 and the respective transverse side. It is to be noted herethat each heat exchanger plate 11 includes an edge area 20, whichextends around substantially the whole heat exchanger plate 11 and whichpermits said permanent connection of the heat exchanger plates 11 toeach other. These edge areas 20 will along the transverse sides abut theinner cylindrical wall surface 3, and said recirculation channels 19 areformed by gaps extending along the transverse sides between each pair ofheat exchanger plates 11. It is also to be noted that the heat exchangerplates 11 are connected to each other in such a way that the first plateinterspaces 12 are closed along the transverse sides, i.e. towards therecirculation channels 19 of the inner space 3.

The embodiment of the heat exchanger device disclosed in thisapplication may be used for evaporating a medium supplied in a liquidstate via the inlet 5 and discharged in a gaseous state via the outlet6. The heat necessary for the evaporation is supplied by the platepackage 10, which via the inlet conduit 16 is fed with a fluid forinstance water that is circulated through the second plate interspaces13 and discharged via the outlet conduit 17. The medium, which isevaporated, thus is at least partly present in a liquid state in theinner space 2. The liquid level may extend to the level 22 indicated inFIG. 1. Consequently, substantially the whole lower part space 2′ isfilled by medium in a liquid state, whereas the upper part space 2″contains the medium in mainly the gaseous state.

In FIG. 3, an embodiment of a heat exchanger plate 11 in the platepackage 10 is disclosed more closely. It is to be noted that all heatexchanger plates 11 in the plate package 10 advantageously have the sameshape and appearance. In the complete plate package 10, every secondplate is turned in the manner disclosed in FIG. 3, whereas every otherplate is rotated 180° about a substantially vertical rotary axescoinciding with the sectional plane p. The plate package 10 and eachheat exchanger plate 11 include tree portions, see FIG. 3, an upperportion 31, an intermediate portion 32 and a lower portion 33. Eachportion includes a corrugation of ridges and valleys, wherein the actualheat exchange between the heat exchanger plates 11 takes place via theintermediate and lower portions 32, 33. The corrugation in theintermediate portion 32 extends as is shown in FIG. 3, in differentdirections at different parts of the intermediate portion 32. Thecorrugations are made in such a way that the corrugation in all parts ofthe intermediate portion 32 extends in a respective direction of oneplate 11, and in another respective direction of an adjacent plate 11 insuch a way that the corrugations of adjacent plates 11 cross each otherover the whole intermediate portion 32. In such a way, an efficient heattransfer from the fluid to the medium is ensured at the same time as theplates 11 included in the plate package 10 are given the requiredmechanical support.

As is shown in FIG. 3, the first portholes 14 are provided in theproximity of the lower portion 33 and the second portholes 15 in theproximity of the upper portion 31, wherein the fluid will flow upwardlythrough the second plate interspaces 13 in the plate package. Of courseit is also possible to provide the first portholes 14 at the upperportion and the second portholes at the lower portion 33. It is alsopossible to provide the portholes 13 and 14 in other positions on theplate 11.

As is shown in FIG. 3, the corrugation extends in the upper portion 31obliquely outwardly from the sectional plane p forming a middle plane ofeach heat exchanger plate 11. The corrugations extend at an angle a,which is about 45° in the embodiment disclosed. This means that when theheat exchanger plates 11 are provided adjacent to each other in theplate package 10 the corrugations in the upper portion 31 will formoutlet channels in the first plate interspaces 12. These outlet channelsare formed by valleys between adjacent ridges of the corrugations andhave been given the reference sign 34. The outlet channels 34 will thusextend obliquely upwardly and outwardly from the sectional plane p atthe same angle a as the corrugations. This angle may be from 30 to 60°and advantageously about 45° as is shown in the embodiment disclosed.

Since the plate package 10 is provided in the lower part space 2′ andsince the liquid level 22 lies below the upper side of the plate package10, the medium, which flows upwardly through the plate package 10 in thefirst plate interspaces 12, will be guided by the outlet channels 34obliquely outwardly towards the inner wall surface 3. The inner wallsurface 3 will then catch possibly remaining liquid from the mainlygaseous medium in the upper part space 2′. The caught liquid may thenflow along the inner wall surface 3 and down into the recirculationchannels 19 back to the lower part space 2′ where the medium is presentin the liquid state. Since also the first plate interspaces 12 areclosed along the transverse sides of the plate package 10 therecirculated liquid will flow down to be collected in the collectionspace 18. From there the liquid medium may again flow into and upthrough the first plate interspaces 12 of the plate package 10. Thecollection space 18 then operates as a distribution chamber distributingthe medium uniformly to different parts of the plate package 10.

As is shown in FIG. 3, the corrugation of the intermediate portion 32 ofeach heat exchanger plate 11 includes an elongated distribution element25, which extends substantially perpendicularly in relation to thesectional plane p and the vertical extension plane q of the plate 11.The elongated distribution element 25 projects into the adjacent secondplate interspace 13 and meets a corresponding distribution element 25 ofan adjacent heat exchanger plate 11 in such a way that the twodistribution elements 25 provides a flow barrier in the second plateinterspace 13. This means that the fluid is forced to take a prolongedpath through the second plate interspace 13 and may not flow straightbetween the portholes 13, 14. Possibly, the distribution element 25 maybe provided with one, two, three, four or more shorter interruptions 36,in such a way that a smaller part of the fluid may pass the barrierformed by the distribution elements 25 for a better utilisation of theheat exchanging capacity of the parts of the plates 11 which are locatedimmediately above and below the barrier. Two such interruptions 36 aredisclosed in FIG. 3.

The elongated distribution element 25, which is disclosed in FIG. 3, isformed through a compression-moulding of the heat exchanger plate 11,preferably at the same time as the compression-moulding of the plate 11.By such a compression-moulding a projection, which extends as a ridgeinto the adjacent second plate interspace 13, is formed at one side ofthe plate 11, and at the other side of the plate 11 a depression thatextends as a valley from the adjacent first plate interspace 12 isformed.

The distribution element 25 disclosed is provided in the intermediateportion 32 and in particular substantially in the middle between hefirst porthole and the second porthole. Each heat exchanger plate 11 hasan upper edge 41, a lower edge 42 and two side edges 43, 44. Thedistribution element 25 is located substantially in the middle betweenthe upper edge 41 and the lower edge 42, and in the middle between thetwo side edges 43 and 44. The distance from the distribution element 25to the upper edge 41 has been designated by A. The distance from thedistribution element 25 to the lower edge 42 has been designated with B.The distance from the distribution element 25 to the respective sideedge 43, 44 has been designated with C. A and B may be different but arein the embodiment disclosed substantially equal. The distributionelement 25 has such a length that the closest distance C from the outerends of the distribution element 25 to the respective side edge 43, 44is equal to 0.7 to 1.0 multiplied by the distance A to the upper edge41.

FIG. 4 discloses a variant of the heat exchanger plate 11, which differsfrom the heat exchanger plate 11 disclosed in FIG. 3 through the designof the distribution element 25. In the heat exchanger plate 11 in FIG.4, the distribution element 25 has an intermediate portion 51 and twoouter portions 52, 53, which extend from the intermediate portion 51towards a respective side edge 43, 44. The both outer portions 52, 53have a small inclination upwardly towards the upper edge 41 of the heatexchanger plate 11. The intermediate portion 51 has an arrow-like shapeand slopes from the two outer portions 52 and 53, respectively, upwardlytowards the upper edge 41. The distribution element 25 in FIG. 4 isprovided with four interruptions 36.

FIG. 5 discloses a distribution element 25 as a separate elongatedrod-like insert intended to be located in the second plate interspace13. This insert may in an easy manner be provided in the second plateinterspaces 13 in connection with the manufacturing of the plate package10. The insert may then suitably be attached to one or both of theadjacent heat exchanger plates 11, for instance by brazing, welding orgluing. The inset may be manufactured of any suitable material, forinstance a metal, such as stainless steel or titanium, plastics, ceramicmaterials etc. The distribution element 25 disclosed has two upwardlysloping outer portions 52 and 53 and a substantially straightintermediate portion 51. The distribution element 25 has threeinterruptions 36. It is to be noted that the interruptions 36 may bedesigned as holes through the insert or as recesses extending from theupper side or lower side of the insert.

The heat exchanger device also includes a discharge conduit 26 extendingfrom the collection space 18 at the lowest located point of the tank 1.The discharge conduit 26 includes a valve 27 enabling intermittentdischarge of impurities that has been collected in the bottom area ofthe collection space 18, for instance oils or alike.

The invention is not limited to the above-limited embodiment but may bevaried and modified within the scope of the following claims.

1. A plate package (10) for a heat exchanger device having a tank (1),which forms a substantially closed inner space (2) and which includes aninner wall surface (3) facing the inner space, wherein the tank (1) isarranged to be provided in such a way that a sectional plane (p), whichextends through the plate package (10) and the inner space of the tank(1), is substantially vertical, wherein the plate package (10) isarranged to be provided in the inner space (2) and comprises heatexchanger plates (11) provided adjacent to each other, wherein each heatexchanger plate (11) has a main extension plane (q) and is provided insuch a way that the extension plane (q) is substantially perpendicularto said sectional plane (p), wherein the heat exchanger plates (11) formfirst plate interspaces (12), which are substantially open to the innerspace (2) and arranged to permit circulation of said medium from thelower part space (2′) upwardly to the upper part space (2″), and secondplate interspaces (13), which are closed to the inner space (2) andarranged to permit recirculation of a fluid for evaporating the medium,wherein the first plate interspaces (12) in an upper portion (31) of theplate package (10) form outlet channels (34) for the medium, whereineach heat exchanger plate (11) includes a first porthole and a secondporthole (15) and wherein the first portholes (14) form an inlet channelfor said fluid to the second plate interspaces (12) and the secondportholes (15) form an outlet channel for said fluid from the secondplate interspaces (13), and wherein each heat exchanger plate includesan elongated distribution element (25) extending into the adjacentsecond plate interspace (13) and substantially transversally to saidsectional plane (p).
 2. A plate package according to claim 1, whereinthe distribution element (25) is formed through a shaping of the heatexchanger plate (11), wherein this shaping forms a projection extendinginto the adjacent second plate interspace (13) and a depressionextending from the adjacent first plate interspace (12).
 3. A plate heatexchanger according to claim 1, wherein the distribution element (25) isformed by a rod-like insert which is provided in the second plateinterspace (13).
 4. A plate package according to claim 1, wherein theplate package in addition to said upper portion (31) includes a lowerportion (33) and an intermediate portion (32), wherein the firstportholes (14) are provided in the proximity of the lower portion (33)and the second portholes (15) in the proximity of the upper portion(31).
 5. A plate package according to claim 4, wherein the portions(31-33) include a respective corrugation of the ridges and valleys, andwherein the corrugation of the intermediate portion (32) extends in atleast one direction of one of said plates and in at least anotherdirection of an adjacent plate (11) in such a way that the corrugationsof adjacent plates (11) cross each other in the intermediate portion(32).
 6. A plate package according to claim 1, wherein the sectionalplane (p) intersects the first porthole (14) and the second porthole(15).
 7. A plate package according to claim 1, wherein the distributionelement (25) is provided substantially in the middle between the firstporthole (14) and the second porthole (15).
 8. A plate package accordingto claim 7, wherein the distribution element (25) has an intermediateportion (51) and two outer portions (52,53) which extend from theintermediate portion (51) to a respective side edge (43,44).
 9. A platepackage according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the outer portions(52,53) has an inclination upwardly towards the upper edge (41).
 10. Aplate package according to claim 8, wherein the intermediate portion(51) from the two outer portions (52,53) is inclined upwardly towardsthe upper edge (41).
 11. A plate package according to claim 1, whereineach heat exchanger plate has an upper edge (41), a lower edge (42) andtwo side edges (43,44), wherein the distribution element (25) is locatedsubstantially in the middle between the upper edge (41) and the loweredge (42), and in the middle between the two side edges (43,44).
 12. Aplate package according to claim 11, wherein the distribution element(25) has such a length that the closest distance (C) to each of the sideedges (43,44) is equal to 0.7 to 1.0 multiplied by the distance (A) tothe upper edge (41).
 13. A plate package according to claim 1, whereinthe distribution element (25) includes at least one interruption (36)forming a passage for said fluid through the distribution element (25).14. A plate package according to claim 1, wherein the upper part space(2″) is designed in such a way that said outlet channels (34) extend insuch a direction that the medium is guided outwardly from a central partof the plate package.
 15. A plate package according to claim 1, whereinsaid outlet channel (34) extends obliquely upwardly and outwardly fromsaid sectional plane.
 16. A plate package according to claim 15, whereinsaid outlet channels (34) extend at an angle (a) that is 30 to 60° inrelation to said sectional plane.
 17. A plate package according to claim16, wherein said angle (a) is about 45°.
 18. A plate package accordingto claim 1, wherein the plate package (10) has an upper side, a lowerside and two opposite transverse sides, and is provided in such a way inthe inner space (2) that the plate package, substantially, is located inthe lower part space (2′) and that gap-like recirculation channels (19)are formed between the inner wall surface and the respective transverseside.